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Operation of Smart Grids and Microgrids: Methods, Strategies, Optimization, and Challenges

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 8852

Special Issue Editor

Department of Electrical Engineering, Razi University, Kermanshah 67144-14971, Iran
Interests: power system operation and planning; smart energy systems; uncertainty management; energy hub

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We cordially invite you to submit your original research or literature review papers to this Special Issue on the “Operation of Smart Grids and Microgrids; Methods, Strategies, Optimization, and Challenges” in Sustainability.

The terms ‘smart grid’ and ‘microgrids’ refer to the modernization of electrical networks and consist of the integration of various technologies such as distributed generation, energy storage devices’ dispatchable loads, control and communication systems; operating in different modes of grid-connecting and islanding. Additionlly, the decarbonization of the different energy systems results in a deep transformation applying to the design—and redesign—of the most fundamental structures of power systems and entering renewable energy resources. The traditional operation strategies in these new power systems have been significantly influenced during recent years.

These issues call for the application of different strategies, methods, and tools to tackle the main challenges and arising concepts in the field of operation and control of smart grids and microgrids.

This Special Issue is dedicated to the application of advanced optimization manners and methods to the operation and control of smart grids, and microgrids, focusing on renewable energy resources, managing and decision-making regarding the operational issues in the presence of different uncertainties by wind power plants, photovoltaic systems, and electric vehicles; as well as different strategies and applications such as energy storages, demand responses, combined power and heat aspects, and the other resources/strategies applied to the integration of renewables and increasing their flexibility. Furthermore, the application of different energy carriers in these new systems is of great importance.

Points of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Uncertainty modeling and decision-making;
  • Optimal power flow;
  • Optimal power and gas flow;
  • Combined heat and power economic/emission dispatch problem;
  • Optimal energy management;
  • Electric vehicle management;
  • Energy storage strategies and devices;
  • Optimization algorithms;
  • Control strategies;
  • Hybrid (AC/DC) power networks;
  • Multi-energy carrier operation;
  • Demand response programs.

Dr. Hamdi Abdi
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microgrids
  • smart grids
  • operation
  • optimization
  • uncertainty

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 2931 KiB  
Article
Smart Grid Project Benefit Evaluation Based on a Hybrid Intelligent Model
by Yi Liang, Yingying Fan, Yongfang Peng and Haigang An
Sustainability 2022, 14(17), 10991; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141710991 - 2 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
With the accelerated development of smart cities, the construction and development of smart grids have an increasing impact on the safe and stable operation of power systems. The benefit evaluation of smart grids can find out the problems of smart grids more comprehensively, [...] Read more.
With the accelerated development of smart cities, the construction and development of smart grids have an increasing impact on the safe and stable operation of power systems. The benefit evaluation of smart grids can find out the problems of smart grids more comprehensively, which is of great practical significance for the further development of smart cities. In order to ensure accuracy and real-time evaluation, this paper proposes a new hybrid intelligent evaluation model using an improved technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (TOPSIS) and long–short-term memory (LSTM) optimized by a modified sparrow search algorithm (MSSA). First, a set of smart grid benefit evaluation index systems is established in the context of considering smart city development. Then, aiming at the reverse order problem existing in TOPSIS, an improved evaluation model with entropy weight and modified TOPSIS is established. Finally, an intelligent evaluation model based on LSTM with MSSA optimization is designed. The example analysis verifies the accuracy of the model proposed, points out the important factors affecting the benefits of smart grids, and provides a new idea to achieve effective evaluation and rapid prediction, which can help to improve the benefit level of smart grids. Full article
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26 pages, 1561 KiB  
Article
Environmental/Economic Dispatch Using a New Hybridizing Algorithm Integrated with an Effective Constraint Handling Technique
by Hossein Nourianfar and Hamdi Abdi
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3173; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14063173 - 8 Mar 2022
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2443
Abstract
This work tackles a relatively new issue in power system operation, known as the Environmental/Economic Dispatch problem. For this purpose, the combination of two powerful heuristic algorithms, namely, the Exchange Market Algorithm (EMA) and Adaptive Inertia Weight Particle Swarm Optimization (AIWPSO), was employed. [...] Read more.
This work tackles a relatively new issue in power system operation, known as the Environmental/Economic Dispatch problem. For this purpose, the combination of two powerful heuristic algorithms, namely, the Exchange Market Algorithm (EMA) and Adaptive Inertia Weight Particle Swarm Optimization (AIWPSO), was employed. Additionally, the Multiple Constraint Ranking (MCR) technique was used to address the system constraints such as prohibited operating zones and ramp rate limits. Furthermore, the mutation operator was used to improve the performance of the global search mechanism. The main purpose of combining these two algorithms was utilizing the EMA’s high performance to explore the global optimum and local exploitation ability of AIWPSO. The algorithm performance was evaluated on six standard benchmark functions and was scrutinized on several different test systems, including 6–40 units. By using the proposed method, the minimum values of the reduction in annual costs, with equal or less emissions, compared to other methods, were USD 17,520, 8760 and 10,801,080, respectively, for the 6-unit, 10-unit, and 40-unit test systems (assuming the same load profile throughout the year). Similarly, in the 14-unit test system for 1750, 2150, and 2650 (MW) load demands, these values were USD 229,879, 148,438, and 4483, respectively. Full article
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Review

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20 pages, 350 KiB  
Review
A Brief Review of Microgrid Surveys, by Focusing on Energy Management System
by Hamdi Abdi
Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010284 - 24 Dec 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1826
Abstract
Microgrids are new concepts in power systems that can upgrade current power systems due to their technical, economic, and environmental advantages. In addition, the increasing penetration of renewable energies and their use in microgrids have increased the complexity of these new grids in [...] Read more.
Microgrids are new concepts in power systems that can upgrade current power systems due to their technical, economic, and environmental advantages. In addition, the increasing penetration of renewable energies and their use in microgrids have increased the complexity of these new grids in terms of planning and operation. Along with numerous research and practical projects built in different countries with multiple applications, countless types of research have also been performed relying on different aspects of MGs. In this paper, based on a review of studies and review articles related to MGs, an attempt has been made to evaluate and report the optimal energy management of MGs, based on what is addressed in the literature. In addition, the most critical surveys on various topics of MGs are introduced as a guide for researchers to draw a road map for future works. Full article
20 pages, 1183 KiB  
Review
A Systematic Review on the Application of the Living Lab Concept and Role of Stakeholders in the Energy Sector
by Sphokazi Phelokazi Mbatha and Josephine Kaviti Musango
Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14009; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114009 - 27 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2166
Abstract
The living lab concept is identified as having the potential to provide a platform to test technologies and support energy transition. However, the application of the concept to the energy sector is limited, though emerging. This study undertook a systematic literature review to [...] Read more.
The living lab concept is identified as having the potential to provide a platform to test technologies and support energy transition. However, the application of the concept to the energy sector is limited, though emerging. This study undertook a systematic literature review to understand the extent of the application of the living lab concept, with the particular aim of informing the processes to establish such a platform in urban Africa. Using a sample of 35 papers, only 17 papers were related to energy-living labs, while 18 papers were outside the energy field. The scale and contexts of the application of living labs were diverse. However, not all initiatives that defined themselves as living labs were characterised by elements typical of the concept of a living lab. Further, how the stakeholders were identified, and the stakeholder recruitment process in energy living labs was unclear in the sampled studies. A recommendation is to improve transparency in the stakeholder identification, engagement, and recruitment process in energy living labs and to incorporate gendered issues into the setup and management of urban energy living labs. Full article
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